Catholic bishops claim church is under fire from legislators

News-Times, The (Danbury, CT)

Published 1:00 am, Thursday, April 6, 2006

HARTFORD (AP) - Connecticut's three Roman Catholic bishops said Wednesday that they believe their church is under fire in the state legislature, where there have been efforts to require Catholic hospitals to provide emergency contraception for rape victims.

Hartford Archbishop
Henry J. Mansell
, speaking to more than 500 followers who attended Catholic Day at the Capitol, did not accuse specific legislators of being anti-Catholic. But the archbishop said he does believe "Catholic bashing" is on the increase and there is an abortion rights agenda behind the emergency contraception bill.

But last week, a version of the legislation reappeared in the
Democrats
' spending bill. It would set aside $5 million in energy assistance for hospitals that provide rape victims with emergency contraception.

It is doubtful that provision will be part of the final budget, which must be negotiated between the majority Democrats in the legislature and Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell.

But Amann said he is willing, at the request of Appropriations Committee co-chairwoman

Denise Merrill
, D-Mansfield, to attempt to set up a meeting between Merrill and Mansell.

"I think that's always positive. There's no other commitments beyond talking," Amann said. "But to get people in a room sometime to have dialogue is always a good thing in my opinion."

Amann said if a compromise is reached, there is a chance it can be taken up by legislators later in the session. But he said legislative leaders will have to consider how much time the debate might take. The session ends May 3.

Advocates for rape victims say the legislation is needed because some hospitals don't tell women about the drug, also known as Plan B, or refuse to distribute it. Seven states already require all hospitals to dispense the drug, which helps prevent a pregnancy within 72 hours of sex.